Top things that fascinates the baby #ParentTalks #BabyTalks

You bought an expensive toy from Hamley’s for your little baby. And you are thrilled that it will entertain her and that she will love it. Its later that you realise how uninterested she is in it. Babies seem to be loving the random-est of all things. Its so funny to hear them baby talking, coo-ing, gurgling and giggling at things you don’t even care about. Here are the top 8 things that fascinates the baby more than that expensive toy you just bought.

1. Fan

It goes round and round, and its your babys’ first love. They love the fan, irrespective of which brand it belongs to. You might want to start their day by saying “Chalo beta, tell your fan good morning!”.

2. Curtains

It might not have been washed in a year. It might have faded. It might have holes. And it might even not look bright or attractive. But mind it, this is what your baby loves!

3. Lights

All kinds of lights. Be it the home tube lights or lights in their toys or the street lights on the road. Babies love lights and this one will surely help you ease their crankiness.

4. Ceiling

Since they keep staring at it in their initial few months, there is a bond between the baby and the ceiling. Again, the baby is unbiased, and loves it the way it is. The baby accepts the ceiling in all its flaws – water seepage, colour fade, cracks and spots – everything.

5. Wall clock

I feel it’s the ticking or the hands of the clock that catch their attention. Whatever it is, its ok till the time the baby is happy!

6. Teeth

Obviously you have taken the baby in your hands and made weird noises, and tried to talk to them in goo-goos and ga-gas. And they would have responded well too, with their endearing smile. But don’t be mistaken that they are understanding your silly talk. They are just simply getting amused by your teeth. Ensure you brush well before talking with the baby!

7. Photo frames

Not that they can make much sense of who’s who in the photo frame, but then who cares till the time the baby likes it. I feel that the baby thinks that she can talk with the photos. Let her be in that misconception if that’s keeping her happy. Right?

8. Clothes hanging behind the door

Especially when you close the door and the clothes that are hanging behind start flying like flags. Continue to keep them hanging till it amuses the baby.

Nathdwara – the home to Dwarkadheesh, its #Myths & #Beliefs

Nathdwara is a small village in Rajasthan. The nearest railway station is Falna, and the nearest airport is at Udaipur. Otherwise, there are plenty of buses from Ahmedabad, Udaipur and even Mumbai which stop here daily. If you always wondered that dhoti, kurta and kedyu are outdated and no one wears it in this age, you are wrong. This visit to Nathdwara will change your mind on not just fashion but also in the way you pray!

Krishna in Nathdwara is at his home. He is in the bal swaroop or in the child avatar, hence also called Bal Gopal. The priests and pilgrims also treat Krishna as their kid at home.

Krishna is known to play pranks and in this swaroop of Krishna, he has adorned many ornaments belonging to Radha. This can be interpreted as Krishna giving us the message that for him, both the man and the lady are one, without any prejudice and he not only accepts both of them, but is also in both of them. In today's talks, this could also be interpreted as Krishna being a Feminist (laughs). Krishna wears the nath, hair bun, necklace, baajubandh, toe rings and anklets that belong to Radha.

People here at Nathdwara, both men and women, call themselves as the Gopis and express their love for their Krishna. This is often visible when you stand in the crowded line for the darshan. The darshans are a little different here. The haveli isn’t open through the day. Krishna gives darshan in various time slots. Totally, there are 7 darshans which happen through the day. It is said that on a daily basis Krishna travels to Mathura in his rath to give the eighth darshan – Shayan.

1. Mangala
2. Shringaar
3. Gwaal
4. Raj bhog
5. Uthapan
6. Bhog
7. Aarti
8. Shayan

Its not compulsory to do all the darshans, and it is said that if a person makes it for the Mangala darshan which is generally around 5 am, it kind of covers all darshans! Its a sight at 5 am, the village is already awake and many will start their business post offering their prayers to Krishna. After you complete the Mangala darshan, you simply have to treat yourself to the garam garam poha, khaman and chai which is served in a clay glass (small matka glass).

The Shringaar darshan shouldn’t be missed as Krishna is the best dressed at this time. If you see the moorti carefully, you will spot a diamond twinkling at the chin. Many believe that in the olden days, the Kohinoor rested at the chin of this moorti of Krishna.

The Raj bog darshan is the chhappan bhog offering i.e. fifty-six food items offered to Krishna. It goes without saying that the Raj bhog prasad is the best of all!

Apart from Krishna darshan, Nathdwara has a lot more to offer. It’s a foodies delight! Its khau galli or chowpatty gives the most delicious purple yam (known as kand here) throughout the year. You will also find plenty of stalls making thandai, garam doodh, kanda kachori, jeera goli and chaat.

Nathdwara is also a shoppers delight – especially for women. You get a wide range of sarees, dress materials, kurtas, dupattas, mojris. The famous bandhani and lehriya sarees and dupattas are also available here. And the best part is, at a much reasonable cost. Even the clothes (known as vaagha in local language), ornaments and other accessories of Bal Gopal are available here, and these are really pretty ones. Apart from this, you get very good silver, wooden toys, and utensils.

When you visit Nathdwara, you are at Gods’ home. And you tend to forget all the dirt, cow dung and garbage. You embrace the divine village atmosphere in all its simplicity.

Jai Shree Krishna. Or JSK as its now called _/\_

Where are the NRIs shopping? #ecommerce #onlineshopping #ConsumerBehavior

That hep cousin or yours living in the UK and that aunt from Canada (pronounced as kaneda) who talks with a fake English accent, are all shopping. Splurging. And obviously showing off their sexy pair of orange Steve Madden loafers, white cut-work Zara dress and sequinned Mango pants!

Damn, they are rich! They can afford these brands. To top it, these brand stores have a better variety abroad.

However, the truth could be a little different though. The trend now is to shop in India. Many NRIs are now coming to India and shopping not just the Indian traditional wear but even the high fashion global brands.

What has happened that the NRIs now don’t mind shopping in India for these brands?

Simple. It’s cheaper here! Especially if they buy it online!! Yes that’s true, this is happening. We are becoming a fashion and shopping hub too (cheers to us *clinging the wine glass*).

There’s a reason why global branded clothes are a bit cheaper online in India. Several high fashion brands are taking the online route to enter India. They are taking the advantage of the absence of regulations around selling through third party portals and also other factors like lack of quality infrastructure and high real estate costs. Under current regulations, the global brands do not require a licence to sell in India through online portals if they do not have operations here.

A grey woollen overcoat from Dorothy Perkins costed 150 NZ $ in New Zealand (which is around Rs. 6,500). And its cost in India on a popular fashion website was approximately Rs. 3,100. It was cheaper shopping it online in India. It’s natural to grab these shopping delights and on the yearly travel to India, collect these and then show them off back home!

Sources:

 - Article named Top fashion brands take the online route to enter India by Anumeha Chaturvedi, published in Brand Equity, 02 May 2016

 - An NRI cousin J

Dream of a New Indian Mom (this New Indian Mom is ME)

“Oh! What a cute little angel… she looks just like you.” 

“Oh my God… she’s got such lovely long fingers! She’s gonna be an artist haan.” 

“Just wait till she grows up; she’s going to make you’ll dance to her tunes!” 

And a lot more similar banter is what the New Indian Mom faces right from the first day of her motherhood. Along with these, the New Indian Mom also faces an entire encyclopaedia of random advices and queries: “Do you get those motherly feelings for your little one?” “Tumhe doodh toh barabar aa raha hai na?” “Now your life is going to change… a complete 360 degree turn it will make” “Your priority will now be your child and no one else” “You should avoid going out now” “Put a kala tika to your little one, taaki nazar na lage!” “Name your little one from the raashi only”… and so it goes on!

In all this, no one really cares of what the dreams of this New Indian Mom are... What does she want, what are her aspirations, what are her dreams! Frankly, it’s not necessary that her dreams are about her new born baby! They can actually be quite bizarre.

There was information that the Himalayan Mountain was going to be covered in lava. Exactly! The sparkling snowcapped mountains were going to experience volcanic activity. And I was chosen by National Geographic Channel to report the details of this volcanic mountain and its surrounding area. So the cameraman and I headed for the Himalayas in a helicopter. Just before the start, we entered an underground parking area from where I collected food packets for our trip, and even managed saving a dog from an accident with the chopper. In the topsy-turvy journey, we saw it! Yes! It was a snow-white mountain. From its peak, gushed out smoke and flaming yellow-orange lava. The lava was settling on the White Mountain, making patches of carbon black… and slowly, we had a completely black mountain amongst the entire crystal white Himalayas.

Yes, that was the first dream which I had and then I woke up from the anaesthesia. Yes, I did not dream of my new born child. I did not dream of me becoming a mother. I did not dream of parenthood. 

We need to stop stereotyping pregnancy, motherhood and parenthood and stop pressurising this New Indian Mom with various dos and donts. When we have kids, we still have a life of our own. Live it well so that you don’t repent later on what all you missed. So that you don’t feel you sacrificed your life to your kids. So that you don’t feel you wasted your life in doing the mundane. And also so that you can take better care of your kids and family. 

It’s all about the journey… Destination exists, but that's just to keep you going.

Finally we reached Badrinath. And after visiting Lord Badrinath with his lovely wife, I should have been the happiest. A twenty-two day pilgrimage had finally come to an end. All the char dhams of the Char Dham Yatra were paid a visit and blessings obtained (blessings obtained has been assumed).

But no. I wasn’t the happiest. Rather there was this deep feeling of a vacuum. Didn't know what next to do. In this very weird state of mind, I decided to visit the nearby village called Mana. Mana is a village in the Himalayas, near Badrinath. Apparently it’s the last village in India. From there on, the region is barren, rocky, without any vegetation, and then it’s China. Seeing this, and a temple, this visit also ended. What next now?

Let me take you to the start of the journey. For most of them, the start was from Delhi. But for me, it was Mumbai, right after completing my Masters. A just-by-chance trip that I had joined, not knowing anyone in the tour (apart from my mom’s cousin – Ruchi, whom also I didn't really know well, she had taken only five songs in her Motorola, that we heard through the entire trip). The only reason I had taken this pilgrimage at an age of 24 years was to visit the Himalayas... while it sounds so cool and adventurous, the real reason was that I didn't know what to do with myself till I joined work! 

The Himalayas had always excited me. This was going to be my first visit to them. I was over the top! I didn't care whom I knew or not. I was only looking forward to the highest dream of mine (literally). And believe me, there is really no comparison to these beautiful mountains. They are mysterious and welcoming at the same time.

The twists and turns, the narrower than narrow lanes, the rivers following us alongside, the mini buses, the extreme climate, the basic food which tasted heavenly there and the oldies around are all memories in bits and pieces that are left.

From Delhi, the tour proceeded to Mathura, Vrindavan, and Agra. Yes, I saw the Taj Mahal, and I was so overwhelmed that I had tears in my eyes! But the others around me weren't as mesmerised as I was. To them it was probably just a burial with a story of a lover. But that’s okay as you can’t make everyone understand the history and emotions.

Then it was Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussorie. Oh God! What had I become a part of! I really didn't like visiting temples and participate in the rituals associated with it. And 4 days gone by, we had not even completed one of our main temples of Char Dham. With no hot water facilities, I was given a secret solution. To chant ‘har har Gange’ and without a second thought to pour the cold water over (*shivers now*). It worked. And then these chants became a daily routine! Do note, Haridwar hosts the best Ganga aarti on the banks of the river itself. Experiencing it is like meditating. And even though I didn't understand much of it, it gave some kind of inner peace.

From Mussorie, our life changed. Our timings changed. Our routines changed. We became nomads. Halted at various places just for overnight stays, all to reach the bigger goal of our life – completing the Char Dham yatra! We used to get up at 2am / 3am, brush teeth, pack bags and get into our mini bus. A roll call would happen to confirm all have come and no one is missed out. And then started the journey to very very far places. Our actual sleep used to happen in the bus. Its quite commendable to us sleepers too, who will comfortably sleep even in the winding roads and blaring horns.

Yamnotri is a 10 km trek uphill. We decided to do this on foot, declining the 'pithu' and 'doli' and horseback. The sight alongside is something which has to be seen. Even after 7 years of my trip, I remember the beauty of the mountain. I had even captured it. But seeing is believing. It cannot be explained. It cannot be put into words. Even the best of writers would fumble to bring out its true beauty.

From Yamnotri, the next on agenda is Gangotri, and the good thing is that the mini bus will drop us at the temple premise. Phew! Couldn't be on a trek every 2 days! On seeing the Alaknanda (that's what Ganga is called at that stage in her course), people go berserk. All they want to do is fill gallons and gallons of the 'holy water' to take back home and give to their friends and relatives. Its like prasad! Many believe that this 'holy water' can cure illnesses and give a person 'moksh'.

Next destination was the Kedarnath Temple, the highest of the char dhams, located more than 14000 feet above sea level. It snows there and its all white. The temple is ancient, and Shiva resides there in everyone's hearts. There are many who have spotted Om in the surrounding mountain ranges and clouds. But I wasn't one of them. Even if Om was there, I would have easily missed it. Kedarnath is also one of the jyotirlingas. And I think it was the most crowded one too. Its a 14 km trek to reach here. And this time, we decided to ride on horseback. So only our butts were tired. Kedarnath, being at a height has less oxygen. Chances of suffering from breathing problems and claustrophobia get higher. So even at night, no matter how cold it gets, the windows of the room have to be left open! Thankfully, hot water bath was available, else I would have cancelled bathing altogether.

And then we headed to Badrinath, where we completed our Char Dham yatra and became 'pious souls'. It was now time to return. Believe it or not, I was looking forward to meet my parents, to resume my mundane routine and just be back to the hustle bustle of the city! 

Points I missed:

1. I was extremely skeptical of this trip. I didn't know whether I would enjoy it or not. So even with all the heavy luggage and clothes that would last me for a month or more, I carried my books!
2. I was overjoyed in Mussorie when I saw pizzas, Cafe Coffee Day and younger looking people. Its a wonderful place.
3. I suffer from low to no urine when I travel. There was a time when all the aunties in our mini bus insisted I urinate on the highway. The circled around me, and literally made me pee on road!
4. Kedarnath is one temple I would want to visit again. I loved the entire feeling. 
5. Every Char Dham temple is located at a peak, and all have a public bath on its slopes. The people there are not conservative or traditional or orthodox. They are okay to publicly take a dive in the ponds and to change clothes. Its a different India there. Its the religious India.
6. My Nani had given me a silver leaf to be given at the Kedarnath temple and a saree to be given at Yamnotri. Mom and Kaki also gave sarees for Yamnotri and Gangotri. I gave away all these. I never had to remember that I had to do all that. It naturally came to me. I think its the aura around that makes you do things by default.
7. When I came back, my Nani wanted to see all pictures. When I showed them to her, I told her that the places are actually much more beautiful than these pictures. She had tears in her eyes. She prayed at each picture of the temple. She thanked me and said that it was because of me she was able to visit the Char Dham. She saw the Char Dham through my eyes! I can never forget this conversation. And I gladly dedicate this trip to her. 
8. When I reached home, I faced problem in getting back into the regular life. I couldn't sleep at nights at a stretch. And would often wake up at odd hours. 
9. I had stories to tell everyone, everytime. They might have got bored of me too.

This ‘what next?’ feeling is what is disturbing. The sense of satisfaction never came. The only time it would come is when I start planning another trip! I don't know if I will ever do such a trip again. But just the thought that there lies a lot more unexplored, waiting for me, excites me. Wondering if I would be able to travel alone again. 

Stories for a livelihood

Hunting for stories

This is what keeps happening. The other day, in a sneaky way I went for an interview at a publication house. Marketing profile sounds really cool and aspirational, and a dream of millions, and mine too, for which somehow I managed to get through atleast for an interview. And not because of my brilliant skills or great work or extraordinary resume. But only because I knew someone there and had forwarded my resume to her.

So I go there. My friend is a journalist. A career I really wanted to pursue when I was young. So she writes. Her cribs have been all about not getting the right story to write about. They would need to really do a lot of work for getting stories. Like going out of station, sitting at the railway station or parks, day dreaming, researching and interviewing people, and those kind of things. Strange as it is, at that time I found my own story as the most intriguing one. This really needed to get penned down, and get some limelight. Not just be left as an experience which no one would ever know about.

Story about my hectic life, advertising work life, running between schedules, client meetings, my home, my parent’s home, my dance class and all other social obligations.

Apparently, when I am sitting to write about it, I no more find it as dramatic as I had envisioned. It almost close to boring!

I wonder where these so called interesting stories are found. Or are they just the regular stories written interestingly? Or are they the ones that are regular stories which just got written about before anyone else’s did? Where are these interesting people living? And why can just I not spot them!

I want to write one blog

It’s so fashionable to write. People suddenly start giving you more respect, see you as one of those ‘intellectual’ lots, who has a point of view, and who can pen it down. Likewise I wanted to be a part of this lot, to be looked up to, and to be respected for the words that get typed.

Initially I thought that I should be in the field of journalism, where I get to write, and then see it published. However, this thought remains with me only… even still. I did nothing about it, and got into this beautiful glamour world of advertising, thinking it might be a better place to show my talent.

However, advertising is a maze in itself. Most people here don’t know what they are doing, why they are doing, what made them join advertising, and now since you have already got a taste of this life, what’s  next in store. Advertising people are clueless. And all they know is advertising. Most of them have considered various other job profiles in advertising itself, instead of pursuing what they are currently doing. Like I have friends who are in Account management [Client servicing is such an abusive word], and they have joined Art direction, Copy writing and even Film production.

So basically advertising gives you that levy where you are not stuck at once place.

But I am yet to figure out my interests. And writing being the closest to my heart, decide that maybe someday I will after all become a copywriter. Good or bad, but surely one of those ‘lots’. First step to this is ensuring the brief I wrote was interesting. Slowly I realized that no one actually read the brief apart from me. And so I thought maybe I should take up some menial jobs like writing brochure copy. But then the copywriters think I am from client servicing, and obviously not a trained writer, so basically whatever I type would be bull shit or close to it.

This undying spirit of mine which craves to type, to make sense, and to be of the intellectual lot then decided that maybe a blog is the answer to the start of my writing career.

So here is my blog. Now let’s see how much further this takes me.

Happy writing.